Little girls are the
nicest things that can happen to people. They are born with a bit of
angel-shine about them, and though it wears thin sometimes, there is
always enough left to lasso your heart—even when they are sitting in the
mud, or crying temperamental tears, or parading up the street in
Mother’s best clothes.

A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than
anyone else in the world. She can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny
noises that frazzle your nerves, yet just when you open your mouth, she
stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is
Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood
dragging a doll by the foot.

God borrows from many creatures to make a little girl.
He uses the song of a bird, the squeal of a pig, the stubbornness of a
mule, the antics of a monkey, the spryness of a grasshopper, the curiosity
of a cat, the speed of a gazelle, the slyness of a fox, the softness of a
kitten, and to top it all off He adds the mysterious mind of a woman.

A little girl likes new shoes, party dresses, small
animals, first grade, noisemakers, the girl next door, dolls,
make-believe, dancing lessons, ice cream, kitchens, coloring books,
make-up, cans of water, going visiting, tea parties, and one boy. She
doesn’t care so much for visitors, boys in general, large dogs,
hand-me-downs, straight chairs, vegetables, snowsuits, or staying in the
front yard.

She is loudest when you are thinking, the prettiest when
she has provoked you, the busiest at bedtime, the quietest when you want
to show her off, and the most flirtatious when she absolutely must not get
the best of you again. Who else can cause you more grief, joy, irritation,
satisfaction, embarrassment, and genuine delight than this combination of
Eve, Salome, and Florence Nightingale.

She can muss up your home, your hair, and your
dignity—spend your money, your time, and your patience—and just when your
temper is ready to crack, her sunshine peeks through and you’ve lost
again. Yes, she is a nerve-wracking nuisance, just a noisy bundle of
mischief. But when your dreams tumble down and the world is a mess—when it
seems you are pretty much of a fool after all—she can make you a king when
she climbs on your knee and whispers, "I love you best of all!"